An MIP-Based PFAS Sensor Exploiting Nanolayers on Plastic Optical Fibers for Ultra-Wide and Ultra-Low Detection...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFASs) are persistent environmental contaminants.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods for PFASs are crucial for environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel optical-chemical sensor for detecting PFASs in real-world scenarios.
• To utilize plastic optical fibers (POFs) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for enhanced sensing capabilities.

Main Methods:

• An SPR-POF platform was coupled with a chemical chip featuring polymeric nanolayers, including a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for PFAS detection.
• The sensor's response to PFOA standard solutions was characterized to determine the detection range.
• The sensor's performance was evaluated using real river water samples.

Main Results:

• The developed sensor demonstrated a wide detection range for PFASs, from 1 part per trillion (ppt) to 1000 ppt.
• The sensor successfully detected PFASs in real river water samples, indicating applicability in real-world scenarios.
• The interaction between PFAS analytes and MIP sites modulated light propagation and SPR phenomena.

Conclusions:

• The novel optical-chemical sensor based on SPR-POF and MIP technology offers a sensitive and effective method for PFAS detection.
• The sensor shows promise for real-time environmental monitoring of PFAS contamination in water bodies.